Photographic contact printer



March 13, 1945- E. s. Hlm-:LINE

PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER Filed March 30, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet l uw@ mmm N March 13, 1945. E s, HlNELlNE PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER Filed Ma,rch 30, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 a mm March 13, 1945. E. s, HlNELlNE 2,371,594

PHOTOGRAPHIG CONTACT PRINTER vMardi 13, 1945. E. HlNELlNE 2,371,594

v PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER Filed MaTCh 30, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 2.; ,QW/MJ@ March 13, 1945. E. 5 HlNELlNE 2,371,594

PHOTOGRAPHI C CONTACT PRINTER Filed March 30, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 13, 1945. E. s. HINELINE PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER Filed March 50, 19425 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 .m .mwl

March 13, 1945. E. 5 HlNELlNE 2,371,594

PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER Filed March 30, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Mar. 13,1945

PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTACT PRINTER Edson S. Hineline, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 30, 1943, Serial No. 481,067

22 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic contact printers, particularly adapted for making contact prints as distinguished from enlargements, either from separate negatives or from a large roll or other package of negatives.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the photographic contact printer with the platen in the contact position and showing the iilm spools carrying a roll of negatives;

Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation of Fig. l with one oi the iilm brackets removed and the other cut away more clearly to show the structure of the platen suspension;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 2, partially in section but showing the platen handle in the vimlocked condition;

lFig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the platen with the lower part broken away more clearly to show the construction of the photographic contact printer and particularly of the platen structure and the switch operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary left-hand elevation of the photographic contact printer with the top platen in the iull open condition and the mask ing device raised from the printer platen;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with the platen raised only to its normal position by the platen support springs, the masking device having been removed;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary detail of one of the arms oi the masking device;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the photographic contact printer with a film strip in place but broken away so as to show the film guide rollers, the masking device being in place and the top platen being in the locked condition;

Fig. 9 is a to-p plan view of the photographic contact printer with the top platen removed so as to show clearly the mounting of the masking device;

Fig. l0 is a horizontal, longitudinal section through the contact printer, the lamp and switch carrying unit being partially removed from the printer; and

Fig. ll is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit, showing the connection of the lamp sockets and the several switches.

Among' the objects of this invention are: to

provide a photographic contact printer that will readily accept either single-sheet negatives or 55 negative in strip form and wound on the usual rolls; to provide a photographic contact printer having a simple masking device that; can readily be adjusted for any size negative within the capacity of the printer; to provide a photographie contact printer having a masking device that is readily removable from' the printer when it is desirable to make prints not using the masking device; to provide a photographic printer having a platen suspension device that will insure an even contact pressure over all the printing area; to provide a platen locking device that is simple to operate, and that will not lock unless it is the desire of the operator to have the platen in the locked condition; to provide a photographic contact printer having removable iilm support members and adjustable means for carrying lm spools of different widths; to provide a photograpic contact printer having anumber of lamps that can be controlled in. such a manner as to provide just the illumination required for a. particular negative; to provide a photographic contact printer having at least one of the lamps separately controlled so that it can be illuminated, even though the platen switch is not operated; and to provide a photographic contact printer having such features but nevertheless of simple construction and low cost of manufacturing. This is made possible particularly because the structure for supporting the lamps and the switches for controlling the lamps are built as a separate unit wherein all electrical wiring can be carried out before the lamp carrying unit is assembled in the printer.

Reference is now more particularly made t0 the drawings disclosing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 to 4, the boxor body portion of the contact printer is indicated at 20, it being usually constructed of wood, but any other suitable material may be employed. To the said box 20 is attached a base 2 i, the top member 22 and a switch plate 23, the latter being attached by screws 24, 24. Fitted to the front of the box 20 is a removable door 25 having knobs 2B, 26 held by screws 26a and, as shown in Fig. 4, having a locking member 21 fitted into a slot 28 of the door and caused to be moved upward by a spring 29 and downward to open the door by the knobs 26' secured to the locking member 21 by said screws 26a, 26a. The door 25 is provided with a tongue 3D to engage a rabbit 3i of the box 2D, the locking member 21 engaging the rabbit 32 of the printer box 20.

As shown in Fig. 1, attached to both sides of the box are fllm spool support brackets 33, 34 secured by means of knurled head screws 33a, 33a, respectively, shown in detail in Figs. 2 and `8,. and which are threaded into suitable sockets provided therefor and indicated in Fig. 2 at 35, 35.

At the' rear of the box 20 is attached at the said sides thereof a second set of lint support brackets 31, 38, shown at the left in Fig. 8 and attached by knurled head screws 81a, 38a (Figs. 5, '6 and 8) threaded into suitable plates 39, 48, most clearly shown in Fig. 2, which are held to the box 29 by wood screws 4l, 4I, shown only as applied to the plates 39 (Fig. 2), though all of said parts are secured in a similar manner.

Hinged to the printer box 20 in a manner to be subsequently more fully described (best shown in Fig. 4) is a platen top structure made up mainly of two members 42, 43 connected together by hinge 44 (Figs. 4 and 8), the two members 42, 43

thereof being provided with felt facings 45, 46 re spectively. As shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 8, the said platen'tcp structure is hinged to the top member 22 by hinges, one of which is shown in Figs. 2', 5 and 6, and each consisting of a plate or member 41.secured by screws 48, 48 to the top member 22. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 8, secured tc each of said hinge plates or members 41 is a platen top plate 49 attached to the member 43 of the platen top structure by screws 50, 50. The hinged plates or members 41 and the-top plates 49 are pivoted 'on shoulder rivets 5I, one of which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and both vof which are shown in Fig. 8. Each platen top plate 49 is provided (as shown in Fig. 8) with an arm 52 having an upturned end 53 to which said two platen top plates are pivoted to long, parallel, platen handle arms 54 by means of shoulderrivets 55, both the right and left-hand portions of the printer box 28 (viewing the same from the front, Fig. 1) being thus similarly provided with the described parts, as i's clearly evident from Fig. 8.

Still referring'to Figs. 4 and 8, in order to cause'each of the platen handle arms 54 to be swung together in a contraciockwise direction and as indicated also in Figs. 5 and 6, there is provided therefor a spring wire 56 tted around the shoulder rivet 55, one end of each such spring wire being hooked to the under side of its vplaten handle arm 54, lthe opposite end of each Wire resting on a buffer plate 51 attached to the platen top member 43 by screws 58, 58, as shown in Fig. 8. Attached to the platen top member 42 (as shown in Fig. 8) are a pair of right-angle brackets 59, 59 by screws 60, 68, shown also in Fig. 4. Each right-angle bracket 59 is provided with a slot 6l riding in both of which is a lengthwiseextending switch-arm operating rod or bar 82 provided with reduced diameter ends for that purpose. 'I'he parallel platen handle arms 54 are also each-provided with a slot or opening indiicated at 83 in Figs. 3 and 5, through which the said switch-arm operating rod or bar 62 also passes. As will be seen from Fig. 8, the two platen handle arms 54 are operatively connected together by the switch-arm operating rod or bar 82.

In order to cause downward movement of the platen top member 42 with respect to the switcharm operating rod or bar 62, there are provided, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, springs 64 of hairpin shape and each having on one end a knob tted around and in a groove in the said switch-arm operating rod or bar 52, the other end-of each said spring resting on the horizontal portion of the corresponding right-angle bracket 59.

Therefore when the platen handle arms` 54 are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the platen top member 43 is held in contact with the platen glass 85,

Figs. 3 and'4, by the springs 56 and the platen top member 42 will be held in contact with the said platen glass 65 by the springs 84.

As shown in Fig. 4, attached to the platen top member 42 is a switch bracket 66 with an upstanding member 61 having attached thereto a switch 68 herein termed the platen switch, and

which is preferably a standard toggle switch, and

which is provided with a threaded cylindrical neck 69 held to the upstanding member 61 by lock nuts 10, 1I. The said switch bracket 88 is provided with a second upstanding member 12 to which there is pivoted (as best shown in Fig. 4) a switch-operating arm 13 by rivets 14, said pivoted switch-operating arm 13 being provided with two inwardly extending members 15, 16 for engaging the ball 11 of the said switch. When the said pivoted switch operating arm 13 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the switch is closed and when the said pivoted switch operating arm 13 is in the position shown in lFig. 5, the switch is in the open circuit or oil. position.

As shown in Fig. 4, the switch bracket 66 and y the switch 88 are enclosed by a switch cover 19 held to the platen top member 42 by screws 80, 80, shown in Fig. 5. Attached to the said switch cover 19 is a flexible metallic conduit 8l through which passes conductors 82, 83 connected to vthe said switch 58. The said metallic conductor conduit 8l is attached vto the back wall of the contact .printer box 20 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and the conductors 82, 83 (as shown in Fig. 10) pass through the conduit 8| and through a second reproof conduit 84 to the lamp .circuit to be subsequently described.

The platen top structure made up mainly of the platen members 42, 43 is heldis contact with the platen glass 65 by the parallel platen handle arms 54 and springs 58 and 84 when the handle 85 (shown in Figs. 2 and 4) vis held in down position, as indicated in said figures. When the said handle 85 is moved in a downward direction, carrying with it the switch-arm operating rod or bar 62, the springs 56 and B4 will be tensioned, thus causing the said platen top members 42, 43 to be moved into and held in contact with the platen glass 65, and after such contact is made, the handle 85 will be moved still further downward, bearing with it the said switch-arm operating rod or bar 82 until it reaches the limit of the slots 6i in the angle brackets 59. The said pivoted switch operating arm 13 (Fig. 4) will also be moved downward by the switch-arm operating arm 13 (Fig. 4) will also be moved downward by the switch-arm operating rod or bar 62, and the said pivoted switch operating arm 13 will be turned in a clockwise direction because of the engage of the ball 11 (Fig. 4) by the said inwardly extending vmembers 15, 18.

In order to hold the platen top structure in the described condition at the limit of its downward movement for contact printing, there is provided locking means, herein consisting of parallel crank members 86, 81 (Fig. l) pivoted respectively to the said parallel platen handle arms 54 by shoulder rivets 88 (Figs. 2 to 5), and, as will be evident from the ensuing description, the platen top structure normally does not lock when down; that is, it does not lock-automatically, but the lock is caused tofunction by the operator when it is desired to` make a long printing exposure, and then pressure on the handle 85 automatically releases the lock. `This permits a faster use of the contact printer.

'rhe handie as (Figs. afa and 4) is pivoted on a handle pin 99 provided with reduced diameter ends fitting into holes in the said parallel platen handle arms 94, 54 and riveted thereto. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the said handle 95 is provided with two eccentrically positioned pins 90, 9| passing through slots 92, 92 of the said two platen handle arms 54, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. 'I'he said crank members 95, 91

y are provided, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with arms 93, 93, each'having a slot for engaging the eccentrically positioned pins 90, 9| acted upon by springs 94, 95, shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 as pivoted on shoulder rivets 99, one or which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The left-hand end of the spring 95, viewing Fig. 4, is anchored on a second shoulder rivet 99, and the opposite end oi' said spring 99 engages the pin 90 oi' the handie 95, causing the latter to tend to rotate' on itsown axis in a clockwise direction. The spring 94 is mounted in a similar manner on the other platen handle arm 54.

Attached to the lower end of said crank members 93, 81 is a long latch bar 91 .(Fig. 8) by means of screws 99, 99 (Fig. 4). The latch bar 91 is provided about midlength with a hookshaped part 99 for engaging a latch plate |00 (best shown in Figs. 3 and 9) which is attached to the printer box top member 22 by screws |0|, |9|. When the handle 85 is released by the operator, the springs 94, 95 cause said handle 95 to be rotated on its own axis in a clockwise direction, thus turning the crank members 96, 81 in a oontraclockwise direction,- thereby withdrawing the hook-shaped part 99 of the lock from the latch plate |00, and so allowing the platen handle arms 54 to be moved upward under the counterbalancing influence of springs 59, 64, as already described, and causing the switch-arm operating rod or bar 92 to be moved in an upward direction, carrying with it .the pivcted switch operating arm 13, thus operating the switch 99. The further movement of the handle 95 in an upward direction will lift the platen top members 42 and 43 from the platen glass 95.

In order to cause the platen top structure including its membersv42, 43 and the operating mechanism therefor to be moved in an upward direction to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, there are provided bell crank levers |02, |02 pivoted on the shoulder rivets 5|, 5| (Fig. 8), each such lever having a hooked part |03 engaging the lower face of the corresponding platen top plates 49. n

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, on the opposite end of each bello crank lever |02' is hooked a spring |04, one end thereof being received in the hole retouching stand. This is done by the operatorA swinging the handle 95 in a contraclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 5, until the platen top plates 49 are stopped by the ends |01 of the two hinge plates or members 41, as indicated in Fig. 5.

As already stated, the herein disclosed contact printer is adapted to accept negative material in rolls, usually mounted on a spool, as well as separated or single-sheet negatives. To that end (as, shown in Fig. 8) a supply spool |09 is carried by the brackets 83 and 31, and for the purpose of supporting the supplyspool |09, there is provided on bracket 33 a bearing |09 into which is fitted a shaft ||9 (most clearly shown in Fig. 9) provided with a crank arm having a handle |.|2, and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, a crank arm with handle ||2 is provided on each shaft |I0 supported respectively in the brackets 33 and 34 at the two ends of the contact printer structure. Each shaft ||0 is provided with a cylindrical step ||3 (Fig. 9) having a key ||4, the supply spool |09 being engaged by said step and key, andl to that end being provided with thde usual keyway. As shown in- Figs. 8 and 9, the bracket 31 is provided with a. bushing ||5 having a haft ||9 provided with circumferential notches ||1, ||9 and ||9. The bushing ||5 is provided with a spring clamp |29 fitted into a slot in the bushing ||5 provided for that purpose, said spring clamp |20 being held in place by means of a pin 42| attached to the bracket 31 as shown at the extreme lower left-hand corner in Fig. 8.

It will be noted that when a large spool is in place (that is, a spool having a length substantially that shown in Fig. 8), the circumferential notches I9 of the shafts ||9 will be engaged by the corresponding spring clamp |20, and the right-hand spool flange |08 will be engaged by the circumferential shoulder I3 of the appropriate shaft I| l0, as best shown in Fig. 9. When, however, a spool of a shorter length is used, as shown. for example, in Fig, 9, the right-hand flange |2|a will be engaged by a reduced diameter step on the shaft H0, such reduced diameter being also provided with a key for engaging a slot in the flange |2| a, shown in dotted lines at |22. The shaft ||9 is provided with a reduced diameter indicated at |23 for receiving the lefthand spool flange |23, the shaft ||9 being moved in the direction of the spool and the notch being engaged by the spring clamp |20.

In order to remove the spool it is only necesv sary to disengage the spring clamp |20 from the notch ||1 and to move the shaft by the knob |24, until the notch i I9 is engaged by the said spring clamp |20, whereupon the spool can then be removed from the shaft I |0. On the opposite end or side of the contact printer, the brackets 34 and 39 are equipped in a manner similar to the brackets 33 and 31 respectively, and the same reference numerals are used for the corresponding parts.

In order to provide guides for the unrolling film |25 in its passage over the platen glass 65, as best shown inFigs. 8 and 9, there are provided near the opposite ends of the contact printer guide rolls |29, |21. The guide roll |26 is supported on pivots |29 and |29, the pivot |28`being attached to bracket 34, and the pivot |29 to the bracket 38. The guide roll |21 is similarly provided with pivots |30 and |3|, the pivot |30 being attached to the bracket 33 and pivot |3| to the bracket 31. The path of the film is most clearly shown in Fig. 1, where it is indicated as passing from the film supply spool |09 over the guide roll |21, over the platen glass 95, over the guide roll |29 and onto the receiving spool |33. The lm |25 can be moved in either direction by means of the two crank arms and handles ||2 so as to be, if desired, unwound more or less from the receiving spool |33 and rewound onto the supply structure herein spool |08 if the printing exigencies require. The disclosed permitting the use of two different lengths of nlm spools is an important feature of the invention. The brackets themselves that support the nlm rolls can be readily removed and packed inside the printer for transportation, thus making a `small, compact package of the entire contact printer.

' Referring particularly to Figs. order to provide, for the contact printer herein disclosed, a suitable masking device or unit that can be used equally well when employing cut lm or when employing iilm negatives in a continuous roll, I have provided the following construction. On the shoulder rivets 5|, 5| are pivoted mask-'- ing-blade support arms |34, |34a at opposite ends or sides of the contact printer. Each shoulder rivet 5| is provided with a groove (not shown) into which a hook |35 (best shown in'Fig. 7.) is engaged when the masking arms are locked with the shoulder rivets 5I, 5|, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. The hook |35 is pivoted to the support arm |34a by a shoulder rivet |36. By reference to Figs. 5 and 7, it will be seen that by turning the two hooks |35 contraclockwise (Fig. '7), the two blade support arms |34, |34a may be readily removed from the shoulder rivets 5|, 5|, thus permitting the entire masking unit or assembly to be lifted oi the top of the printing apparatus. Fig. 6 shows that the masking unit has been removed, and among the objects of the invention is set forth that of the ready removability of the masking device or unit. U-shaped members |31, |31. are attached to the support arms |34, |34a by rivets |31a, |31a (best shown in Fig. 5)'. The said U-shaped members |31 serve as a support for a tie-rod |38 arranged at right angles to the support arms |34, |34a, as evident froml Fig. 8, and each such U-shaped member I 31 has a guide mark orthe like to locate properly the masking 5, 8v and 9, ini

device upon the printer top member 22, as best shown in Fig. 1. The said'tle-rod |38 is riveted to both the right and the left-hand U-shaped members |31.

The masking-blade support arm |34 is provided, as shown in Fig. 8, with right-angle projections |39, |40, to which is iitted a maskingblade support rod |4| in parallelism with support arm |34 and securely attached to the pro-- jection |39, but provided with afree tin a suitable hole in the projection |40. Fitted to the said blade support rod |4|l are` channel members |42, |42 (Figs. 8 and 9) and riveted to the channel members |42, 42 are lengthwise extending masking blades 43, |43 by means of rivets |44, |44. rIfhe channel members |42 are each provided with an integral spring member |45 (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) for imparting a frictional l drag on the rod |4| in order to hold the channelmembers |42 and the lengthwise extending masking blades |43 in any selected position.

Fitted on the tie-rod |38 (shown in Fig. 1) are channel members |46, v|48 having spring ngers |41, |41, and attached to said channel members |46, |46 are transversely extending masking `blades |48; |48 by means of rivets |49 (shown in f Figs. 4, 8 and 9). It will be noted that the masking blades |43, |43 and |48, |48, which are arranged in two pairs at right angles to each other. as best indicated in Fig. 9, can be positioned anywhere on the platen glass 55 within the. limits of the space provided by the support arms |34, |34a and the tie-rod |38. f

When loading striplm into the contac printer, the latter is placed in the condition shown in Fig. 5 with the platen top structure swung all-the-way up and back and the entire masking device raised from the platen glass 65. In order to cause the longitudinally extending blades |43, |43 to follow the support arms |34, |34a, the said masking blades are provided (as shown in Figs. 2, 5, 8 and 9) with hook-shaped ends |50, |50 for engaging the support arm |34a. After the lm has been loaded into place, the entire masking device can readily be brought down into contact with the llm strip and adjusted to the proper size for the negative next to be used. Printing paper is then placed on top of the masking blades and the platen top structure is brought into contact with the printing paper in the manner previously described and again to be referred to in the rsum of the operation of the herein disclosed contact printer;

The contact printer illuminating means is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 10 and 11, and will next be described.

In Fig. 10 is shown a cross section of thecontact printer box 20 with the horizontally positioned lamp support plate or member |5| partly withdrawn from the contact printer box l2|), which is itself provided with suitable transversely extending grooves |52, |52 into which the said lamp support plate or member |5| is tted. Attached to said plate or member is a group of lamp sockets |53, |54, |55, |56, |51, |58, preferably of the standard so-called sign-type of vsocket (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2). The

said lamp support plate or member |5| is provided with a turned up edge |59 to which is attached the switch support plate 23 (Fig. 1) by means of screws |60, |60 (Figs. 1 and 10), and to -said switch support plate 23 is attached a series of switches having operating handles |6l, |62, |63, |64, |65, |66. These switches are provided to permit the operator to select any combination of lighting effect he may desire, as will be more fully explained in describing the circuit diagram Fig. 11. These switches are desirably of a standard toggle-switch construction, such as are available upon the open market. One of such switches is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 at |66, thus corresponding' to the switchhandle |66 therefor, shown in Figs. 2 and 10. The switches in the circuit diagram Fig. 11 are correspondingly marked, being given the same designation as the switch handles in Fig. 10.

-The lamp support plate or member |5| is provided with an opening |61 (Fig. l0) to supply circulating air to the lamps when the p-rinter is in operation. The contact printer box 20 is provided -with a series of openings indicated in dotted lines'in section at |68, |68, Fig. 10, and the said box 20 is also provided with a second set of openings |69, |69 to allow the hot air to pass out of the said box 20, one such opening being shown in Fig. 4. In order to prevent light enter- -ing through the openings |69, there is provided bottom of the lamp support plate or member Referring to the said wiring diagram.- it will be understood that electrical current is supplied to the herein disclosed contact printer through the main wires |12 and |13. The wire |12 is connected to the socket |55 by screw |14, and the wire |13 is connected to the socket |51 by screw |15. A second wire |16 is also connected to the socket |51 by screw |15 and to the socket |53 by screw |11. A third wire |18 is connected to the screw |11 and connects with screw |19 and screw |80 of the sockets |54 and |58, respectively. Connected to the wire |18 is a wire |8| that is connected to screw |52 of the socket |56. To the switch 68 (Fig. 11) are connected the wires/,82 and 83, the wire 82 being connected to screw" |14 ot the socket |55, and the wire 83 beingffconnected to screw |83 oi.' the socket |55. Thefswitch |8| is provided with three 'connectors-i. e., (1) the wire |84 that connects to screw |14 or the socket 55, (2) `the wire |55 that connects to screw |88 of the socket |58, and (3) the wire |81 that con` nects to one side oi the switch |64. The switch |62 is connected to the common conductor |88, which is connected to the socket |55 by means of screw |83. The second conductor |89 of the switch |62 is connected to the socket |53 by means of a screw |98. One side of the switch |63 is connected to the common conductor |88, and the second conductor |9| is connected to the socket |54 by means of the screw |92. One side of the switch |64 is connected to the common conductor |88 and the other side is connected to the switch |6| by means of the conductor |81 previously referred to. One side of the switch |65 is connected to the common conductor |88 and the other side thereof is connected to the socket |58 -by means of the conductor |93 and the screw |94. One side of the switch |66 is connected to the common conductor |88 and the other side thereof is connected to the socket |51 by means of the conductor |95 and the screw |96.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the described circuit is so constructed and arranged that any one of the lamps carried by the sockets, |53, |54, |56, |51 and |58 can be placed in circuit in series with the lamp in the socket |55, which is a red lamp, and since the platen switch 68 is in parallel with the red lamp in the socket I 55, such red lamp will be short-circuited when said platen switch 68 is closed, and any or all of the lamps in circuit in the sockets just referred to will be illuminated. The lamp in the socket |56 can be separately controlled by means of the switch |6l, either by placing the lamp in the socket |56 in series with the red lamp in the socket |55 or by bridging the lamp in the socket |55. When the switch is in position to cause the conductors |84 and |88 l to be connected together, the lamp in the socket |56v will remain lighted regardless of the position of the contacts in the vplaten switch 68. This is very desirable for certain types of work, or when adjusting the masking device, or when it is desired to View a negative by transmitted light. Normally the switch 6| is in position to complete a circuit between the conductors |85 and |81. The lamp in the socket |56 will then be controlled by the switch |64.

A brief rsum of the operation of the herein disclosed contact printer is as follows:

The platen top structure is raised by lifting the handle 85 until the positionvis reached that is shown in Fig. 5. By the same movement, the masking device is also raised to the position shown in Fig. 5. This exposes the entire platen glass 65 ofthe contact printer. The said printer is connected to any suitable electrical circuit by means of the cable |91 (diagram Fig. 11) composed'of the wires |12, |13, and if all of thev switches |6|, |62, |63, |64, |65 and |66 are in the open condition (that is, if all the switch handles shown are pushed downward), al1 the lights will be extinguished. By moving any of the switch handles upward, the corresponding lamp will befconnected in circuit throughthe red lamp that is iltted in the socket |55. Since the resistance of thejred lamp iltted in the socket |55 is much higher than that of any of the printing lamps, the said red lamp will be illuminated. Convenient checking ot all'the lamps to make sure they are working satisfactorily and are not burned out is easily accomplished by moving the switch handles, one after the other, upward and then down again. Whenever any switch is moved upward, the red lamp in socket |55 will burn provided both lamps are in an operating condition (that is, the red lamp in socket |55 and theother lamp in the switch has been moved upward).

After the lamps have been checked, the negative material is placed on the platen vglass 65 and is viewed by moving the switch handle |6| in an upward direction, which will cause the lamp in socket |56 to be illuminated so that the negative can be inspected in due course after having been evenly exposed, it being evident that the lamp |58 is centrally arranged with respect to the negative.

The other lamps, excluding the red lamp |55, are arranged to constitute a'square, and there- Y fore supply light to the four corners of each negative in turn.

All the lamps normally used for printing are connected into the circuit by'moving the respec-I tive switches upward and returning the switch lever |6| downward. Ail the lamps will then be controlled by the platen switch 88. If, for instance, the negative has a very light exposed corner (say, the upper left-hand corner), the lamp in socket |53 would be left out of circuit by moving the switch handle of the switch |62 downward. Thus, it will be seen that it becomes a sample matter to control the illumination to the particular negative through which exposure is made. It will be noted that the centrally located lamp |56 is adapted to be controlled independently either by the platen lswitch 68 or by its special switch.

The described construction provides an illumination unit that can be manufactured and assembled entirely apart from the rest of the contact printer and at a minimum oost, and when completed,.with the described wiring, it can then be readilyslid into place in the grooves |52, |52 of the box or body portion 20 and secured in position by the screws 24 of the switch plate 23 (as shown in Fig. 1) The said illumination unit can be readily removed from the body portion or box 20 of the printer by removing the screws 24, for any purpose, and returned to position and again secured in place by the screws 24. The removal and the return to position of the illuminating unit is done without disconnecting any wires of the electrical wiring, as set forth among the objects of the invention, the wires of the circuit conriections being suilciently long to permit removal of the plate-like member |5| without disturbing the electrical wiring by disconnecting the same.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, it will be noted that the lamp sockets |53. |54, |51 and |58 are distributed in spaced relation about an area approximating in sizeand being in general alignment with, that area which is occupied by the average size negative to be printed on said platen glass thereabove, the exact size of the picture, of course, varying with the size of the film and the arrangement of the masking blades. The said sockets are so arranged 'as to function in connection with-the four corners or quarters of the negative', and the lamp in socket |56 takes care of the center portion of the negative. The red lamp |55 is arranged at any convenient point on the plate I The masking device is then brought. into contact with the negative. and the masking blades thereof are adjusted to provide the proper border, and sensitized paper is laid on top of the masking blades with the sensitized surface in contact with the negative. The platen top structure is then brought into contact with the paper by mean'sof the handle 85, which is moved downward to the limit of its motion, thus operating the switch S8, causing the pre-selected lamps to be illuminated. The handle 85 is held in this position for theproper length of exposure, after which it is released, and the said switch 68 is automatically opened. thus extinguishing all the lamps excepting the red one, |55, to complete the exposure. The platen top structure is then raised by the counterbalancing action of the springs 56 and 64 a suiiicient distance to allow the operator to remove the exposed paper and to place an unexposed sheet in position for a second print.

In practice, this cycle can be carried out very rapidly, and it has been demonstrated that with this equipment and from a normal negative, it is a very simple matter to make some thirty to forty prints a minute.

Itis sometimes desirable to have a further diffusion when making prints other than that to be obtained through `the frosted lamps themselves. For this purpose. I have provided a diffusion glass |98 (Fig. 4) that is tted in suitable slots or grooves provided in the contact printer box 20, and is accessible for quick removal or replace- -ment through the door thereof.

The contact-printer illuminating means herein disclosed is particularly adapted, and is constructed and arranged, for photographic printers and not for illumination generally, and when4 it is positioned in the printer, it becomes a fixed structure therein or part thereof. As already stated, an important purpose of my invention is to provide means whereby any one of the lamps |53, |54, |51 and |58 can be used with the red lamp |55 for photographic purposes only.

The herein described printer has proved highly satisfactoryfor making prints from all types of negatives including negatives made in aerial cameras for the armed forces of the United States. The entire apparatus is very small and compact so that it is readily installed in an airplane or on a ship and can quickly be set up for use anywhere. Because of the disclosed construction, this compact printer can be manufactured in quantities at a very low cost.

While I have described my invention as a photographic contact printer, a number of the described features of the invention may also be used in an enlarger, or a combined contact printer and enlarg'er, such as the locking device for the platen top structure, the locking means, the lamp support plate and the means'for using either lm roll or cut film.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention,it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set' forth in theg following claims.

I claim: vl. Apparatus for printing for photographic fpurposes from negatives including, in combination. a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass, and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out oi printing relation to said platen glass. said platen top structure including at least onepiaten handle arm, a.

handle having a handle pin whereon it isaxlally pivoted and which pin is attached to said arm.v

and a lock for locking, when down, said platen top structure to said box-like body portion, a

member pivoted to the handle arm and to which said lock is connected said pivoted member having an operating connection to said axially pivoted handle to cause a rotative movement of said handle upon its pivot -pin to move said pivoted member, thereby, when the platen top structure is in printing relation to the platen glass and the handle is rotated in one direction, to effect lock.-

ture including two parallel platen handle arms,'a`

handle pivotally mounted in'said arms for rotative movement upon its longitudinalaxis and extending transverselythereto, lever members pivoted on said platen handle arms respectively, and

having an operating connection to said handle,l

and a lock carried by said lever members, and moved by the opposite rotative movements of the handle upon its longitudinal axis, into and out of locking engagement with the box-like body portion when the platen top structure is down in functioning relationl to the platen glass.

3. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass, and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of functioning relation to said platen glass, said platen top structur including two parallel platen handle arms, a handle mounted in said arms and extending transversely thereto, lever members pivoted on said platen handle arms respectively. said handle being rotatable upon its own axis and having eccentric connections to said lever members to move the same upon their pivots, and a lock member carried by said lever members and caused to function to lock the platen top structure to the box-like body portion when down, by rotative movement of said handle imparted to said lever members.

4. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including. in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass, and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement yinto and out of functioning relation to said platen glass, said platen top 'structure including two parallel platen handle arms, a handle mounted in said arms and extending transversely thereto, two lever members pivoted on said platen handle arms respectively, said handle being mounted in said platen handle arms for rotation on its own axis and having eccentrically arranged connections at its ends to said lever arms, lspring means on saidplaten handle arms tending to swirls said lever members'in one directi and a lock member carried by said lever me bers and caused to function to lock when down the platen top structure to said body portion, Asaid lock member being caused to function by rotative movement of said handle on its own axis in one direction.

5. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like `body portion having at its top e. negative-receiving platen transparent member. a platen top structure pivotally mounted by hinges including projecting rivets ll, 3| on said body portion for swinging movement down into and-up .out of functioning relation to the said platen transparent member. and a, masking unit useable either when employing cut film or nlm negatives in a continuous roll, such masking unit including two masking-blade support arms |34, |34a pivoted substantially at the supporting hinges of the top platen structure, hooks |35 pivoted on said support arms |34, |34a adapted to engage said rivets 5| and upon opposite movement of said hooks to be disengaged from said rivets 5|, 5|, so that the said support armsl |34, |34a may be readily removed from said rivets 5|, 5l, whereupon the entire said masking unit may be lifted of! the top of the printing apparatus, atie rod |38 carried at the outer ends of and connecting the said arms |34, |34a, a support rod |4| supported upon said arm |34 in parallelism therewith, a pair of masking blades |43, |43 carried on thesupport rod |4| and a pair of masking blades |48, |48 carried upon said tie rod |38 at right angles to-the masking blades |43, |43, the construction being such that such entire masking unit may be readily swung upward from the platen transparent member independently of the upward swinging movement of the platen top structure.

6. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from 4negatives including, in combination, a box-likebody portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass, a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of functioning relation to said platen' glass, supporting means atl opposite ends of the said top of the body portion to support a iilm supporting spool and a film receiving spool respectively, and means for readily accommodating lm support spools and nlm supply spools of different lengths in said supporting means, whereby the apparatus is adapted readily to accommodate different widths of film rollsI the said last mentioned means and said supporting means including bracket arms4 33, 3l` and 34, 38 extending endwise from the opposite ends of the body portion, bearings |09 on said bracket arms 33, 34 and having shafts ||0 -iitted thereon to receive one end of said spools, bushings I|5 carried by the bracket arms 31, 38 and having shafts ||6 therein to receive the opposite end of said spools, said bushings having disengageable clamps |20, said several shafts having surface formations spaced apart therealong and extending in directions about said shafts for receiving said disengageable clamps on said bushings in accordance with the length of-substituted film support and supply spools.

'1. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen transparent member and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of printing relation to the said platen transparent member and having operating handle means including a handle 3l extending transversely of the apparatus and mounted for rotative movement in either direction upon its own longitudinal axis, a. lock member carried by said platen top structure and adapted to be iso-operatively ensased with ther box-like body portion to lock said platen top structure in its said printing relation to the box-like body portion, and means operatively connected to said lock member on the platen top structure and to said handle Il of said handle means to cause said lock member, by manual rotative movement of said Vhandle 35 in one direction, to move into locking engagement with the box-like body after the platen top structure has been swung fully downward into its printing position. y

8. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negativereceiving platen transparent member and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of printing relation to the said platen transparent member and having operating handle means, a lock member carried by said platen top structure and adapted to be co-operatively engaged with the box-like body portion to lock said platen top structure in its said printing relation to the box-like body portion, said platen top structure having a handle for swinging said structure into and out of printing position, said handle being mounted for rocking movement upon its axis, and means connecting said handle to said locking member to cause said locking member to function by engaging the box-like body portion after the platen top structure has been moved fully into printing position, such means being controlled by said rocking movement of the handle on its axis.

9. Apparatus for printing for Iphotographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen transparent member and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of printing relation to the said platen transparent member and having operating handle means, a lock member carried by said platen top structure and adapted to be co-operatively engaged with the box-like portion to lock said platen top structure in its said printing relation to the boxlike body portion, a handle on said platen top structure for swinging it into and out of printing position, said handle being mounted to receive a rotative manual movement after the platen top structure has been swung down into printing position, and means caused by such rotative manual movement to move said lock member to engage vthe box-like body so as to lock the platen top structure in its printing position.

.10. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen transparent member and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of printing relation to the said platen transparent member and having operating handle means, a lock member carried by said platen top structure and adapted to be co-operatively engaged with the box-like body portion to lock said platen top structure in its said printing relation to the boxlike body portion. a handle on said platen top.

lnegative-receiving platen transparent member and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of printing relation to the sld platen transparent member and having operating handle means, a lock member carried by said platen top structure and adapted to be cooperatively 'engaged with the box-like body portion to lock said platen top structure in its printing relation to the boxlike body portion, a handle on said platen top structure for swinging it into and out of printing position, said handle being mounted to receive a rotative manual movement after the platen top structure has been swung down into printing position, and means caused by said rotative manual movement to move said lock member to engage the box-like body so as to lock the platen top structure in its printing position, the said construction permitting the platen top structurev to be unlocked by application of pressure to said handle in conjunction with a rotative movement of said handle.

12. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes yfrom negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass, and a platen top structure pivotally'rnounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of functioning relation to said platen glass, said platen top structure including at least one platen handle arm, a handle attached to said arm and capable of being rotated, and a lock for locking, when down, said platen top structure to said box-like body portion, said lock being carried by such handle arm and supported so as not normally to function to lock when the platen top structure is swung down into printing position, butcaused to lock and to unlock by rotating movement of said handle,

13. Apparatus for printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass, and a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement into and out of functioning relation to said platen glass, said platen top structure including two parallel platen handle' arms, a rotatable handle mounted in said arms and extending transversely thereto, and locking means carried by said platen handle arms and connected for operation to said handle and conarms. a rotatable handle mounted in saidA arms and extev ding transversely thereto, lever members pivo ed *on said platen handle arms respectively. and having an operating connection to said handle. and a lock carried by said lever members, and causedto .function by a rotary movement of said handle actingthrough said rotating operating connection. y

l5. Apparatus for contact printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass; a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body portion for swinging movement down into and up out of functioning relation to said platen glass,

'said platen top structure having an electric platen switch 68 and switch operating arm 13 actuated by movement of saidplaten top structure to close and to open said switch; electric circuit wiring leading from a source of potential to said platen switch; said printing apparatus having in the body portion thereof below the said platen glass, a plate-like member supported in the said body portion, the latter for that purpose having in its walls guiding formations receiving edges of .said plate-like member and supporting the said member removably in horizontal position; said plate-like member having thereon a plurality of sockets for electric light lamps including a cen trally positioned lamp |56, a red lamp |55 and a series of lamps at substantially the four corner portions or quarters of the said plate-like member. so as to function particularly with respect to the four quarters of the negative to be printed from, there being circuit wiring connecting each of said lamps to the said platen switch. thereby to control said lamps, the said centrally positioned lamp and the said other lamps each hav- Aing in 'the circuit wiring in its own independent switch carried by the said plate-like member, said electric wiring being such that said centrally positioned lamp may be controlled independently, either by the platen switch or by its own special switch, the said plate-like member being removable from its supported position in the body portion while maintaining the circuit connections to the said switches and lamps, said circuit connections being sufficiently long to permit removal of the plate-like member without disturbing said connections thereto.

16. A photographic printing apparatus in accordance with claim 15, but wherein said platelike member is provided at its front with a switch plate directly secured thereto and arranged at substantiallyright angles to the said member and carrying the several switches for each of the lamp sockets, the said switch plate, when the switch plate member is in position in the vbody portion of the printer, constituting the lower part only of the front wall of the said body portion and being removable with the said plate-like member Vfrom the body portion of the printing apparatus as a unit without necessarily disconnecting any wires of the circuit wiring, or disturbing the front wall of the printer box positioned above said switch plate.

17. Apparatus for contact printing for photographic 4purposes from` negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platenglass; a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body portionA for swinging movement down into and up out of functioning relation to said platen glass, said platen top structure having an electric platen switch 58 and switch operating arm 'I3 pose having in its walls guiding formations re-A ceiving edges of said plate-like member and supporting the said member removably in horizontal position; said plate-like member having thereon a plurality of sockets for electric light lamps including a centrally positioned lamp |56, a red lamp |55 and a series oi lamps at substantially .the four corner portions or quarters of the said plate-like member, so as to function particularly with respect to the four quarters of the negative to be printed from, there being circuit wiring permitting any one of said` four corner 'lamps and said centrally positioned lamp |58 to be placed in series with the red lamp, the latter being in parallelwith the platen switch 68 so as to be short-circuited when said platen switch is closed, and whereby any or all of the said four corner lamps and the centrally positioned lamp will be illuminated, the said plate-like member being removable from its supported position in the body portion while maintaining the circuit connections to the said switches and lamps, said circuit connectionsY being suiliciently long to' permit removal of the plate-like member without disturbing said connections thereto.

18. Apparatus for contact printing for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen glass; a platen top structure pivotally mounted on said body portion for swingingmovement down into and up out of functioning relation to said platen glass, said platen top structure having an electric y platen switch 68 and switch operating arm '|3 actuated by movement of said platen top structure to close and to open said switch; electric circuit wiring leading from a source of potential to said platen switch; said printing apparatus having, in the body portion thereof below the said platen glass, a plate-like member supported in the said body portion, the latter for that purpose having in its walls guiding formations receiving edges of said plate-like member and supporting the said r member removably in horizontal position; said plate-like member having thereon a plurality of sockets for electric light lamps including a centrally positioned lamp |56, a red lamp |55 and a series of lamps at substantially the four corner portions or quarters of the said plate-like member, so as to function particularly with respect to the four quarters of the negative to be printed from, there being circuit wiring connecting each of said lamps to the said platen switch, thereby to control said lamps, said centrally positioned lamp also having an independent switch and circuit wiring, so that said centrally positioned .lamp will remain lighted regardless of the position of the contacts in the platen switch 68, the

said plate-like member being removable from its supported position in the body portion while maintaining the circuit connections to the said switches and lamps, said circuit connections be- Y ing sufficiently long to permit removal of the plate-like member without disturbing said oonnections thereto.

19. A printing apparatus for photographic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like portion having at its top a negative-rebeing such that such entire ceiving platen transparent member, a platen top structure pivotally mounted by hinges on said body portion for swinging movement down into and up out of functioning relation to the said platen transparent member, and a masking unit useable either when employing cut lm or nlm negatives in a continuous roll, such masking unit including two masking-blade support arms |34, |34a pivoted substantially at the supporting hinges of the top platen structure, a tie rod |38 carried at the outer ends of and connecting the said arms |34, |34a, a support rod |4| supported upon said arm |34'in parallelism therewith, a pair of masking blades |43, |43 carried on the support rod |4| and a pair of masking blades |48, |48 carried upon said tie rod |38 at right angles to the masking blades 43, 43, the construction masking unit may be readily swung upward from the platen transparent member independently of the upward swinging movement of the platen top structure, the said support arms 34, |34a being provided with hookshaped members |31, |31 wherein the tie rod |38 is mounted, the said masking blade support arm Ament down into and up out of functioning relation to the said platen transparent member, and a masking unit useable either when employing cut lm or film negatives in a continuous roll, such masking unit including two masking-blade support arms |34, |34a pivoted substantially at the supporting hinges of the top platen structure,

a tie rod |38 carried at the outer ends of and connecting the said arms |34, |34a, a support rod |4| supported upon said arm |34 in parallelism therewith, a pair of masking blades |43, |43 carried on the support rod |4| and a pair of masking blades |48, |48 carried upon said tie rod |38 at right angles to the masking blades |43, |43, the construction being such that such entire masking unit may be readily swung upward from the platen transparent member independently of the upward swinging movement of the platen top structure, the said support rod |4| being provided with movable channel members |42, |42 whereon said masking blades |43, |43 are carried, the said tie rod |38 carrying movable channel members |46, |46 themselves carrying the said masking blades |48, |48.

21. A printing apparatus for photopraphic purposes from negatives including, in combination, a box-like body portion having at its top a negative-receiving platen transparent member, a platen top structure pivotally mounted by hinges on asid body portion for swinging movement down into and up out of functioning relation to the said platen transparent member, and a masking unit useable either when employing cut iilm or iilm negatives in a continuous roll, such masking unit including two masking-blade support arms |34, |34a pivoted substantially at the supporting hinges'of the top platen structure, a tie rod |38 carried at the outer ends of and connect-- -ried on the support rod |4| anda pair of masking blades |48, |48 carried upon said tie rod |38 at right angles to the masking blades |43, |43, the construction being such that such entire masking unit may be readily swung upward from the platen transparent member independently of the upward swinging movement of the platen top structure, the said rod |4| being provided with movable channel members |42, |42 whereon the said masking blades |43, |43 are carried, the said tie rod |38 carrying ,movable members |46, |46

themselves carrying masking blades |48, |48, the

said masking blades |43, |43 having at their free ends hooks |50, |50 to engage said support arms claim 5, but wherein the said box-like body porlo tion at its upper end at opposite sides thereof has attached thereto lengthwise extending sheet-like supporting bracket arms 33. 31 and 34. 38, and having bearings |09 for respectively supporting a iilm support spool and a film receiving spool, shafts H0, ||6 mounted in said bearings, said shafts ||6 having circumerentially extending grooves spaced apart therealong and bushings I5 on said bracket arms 31, 38 and provided with spring clamps |20 engageable in said circumferentially extending grooves in accordance with the length of substituted nlm support spool and nlm receiving spool.

EDSON S. HINELINE. 

